Self-centering toggle switch with improved actuator contact structure



J 1967 A. R. DE LORME ETAL 3,299,224

SELF-CENTERING TOGGLE SWITCH WITH IMPROVED ACTUATOR CONTACT STRUCTURE Filed Jan. '7, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ii 18a 12 33 11 43 12 29 19 FIG.3

1 lNl/ENTORS 1 ALBERT R. DE LORME T1 T1 JIMMIIE ct PERKINS 7 14a 5y T; W W 4 (9 .9 3 a M .21 1.3 10 281 0:. ATTORNEYS 1967 A. R. DE LORME ETAL 3,

SELF'CENTERING TOGGLE SWITCH WITH IMPROVED ACTUATOR CONTACT STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 7, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A T TORNEKS United States Patent SELF-CENTERING TOGGLE SWITCH WITH IM- PROVED ACTUATOR CONTACT STRUCTURE Albert R. De Lorme, Detroit, and Jimmie G. Perkins,

Inkster, Mich., assignors to Boyne Products, Inc., Boyne City, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Jan. 7, 1966, Ser. No. 519,272 10 Claims. (Cl. 200-6) This invention relates to a toggle switch construction and more particularly to a toggle switch having a movable operator which is rockable in either of two opposite directions from a centered, neutral position and wherein the operator constantly is biased to its neutral position.

An object of the invention is to provide a toggle switch having an operating member which is rockable about an axis from a neutral position and in which the operating member, in all positions of the latter, is biased to its neutral position so as to eliminate all looseness and play of the operator.

Another object of the invention is to provide a toggle switch of the character described and wherein the effort required to effect movement of the operator from its neutral position to an adjusted position is not accompanied by any significant increase.

A further object of the invention is to provide a toggle switch of the character referred to having multiple fixed and movable contacts and wherein movement of the operator from its neutral position to an adjusted position effects sequential movement of selected ones of the movable contacts.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed out specifically or will become apparent from the following description when it is considered in conjunction with the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a toggle switch constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the switch, but with the operator removed for purposes of clarity;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of FIGURE 3, but illustrating the switch operator in one of its adjusted positions, and illustrating only one of the movable conductors for clarity;

FIGURE 5 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 1, but illustrating a modified form of the invention; and

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 77 of FIGURE 6.

Apparatus constructed in accordance with the embodiment disclosed in FIGURES 1-5 comprises a case 1 formed of molded insulating material such as nylon or the like and having a base 2 surrounded by upstanding side walls 3 and 4 and end walls 5 and 6. Within the case 1 is a substantially rectangular cavity 7 at each of the four corners of which is an upstanding, substantially flat platform 8 having confronting walls 9 which converge toward the base 2 to form a dropped bottom 10. Between each pair of platforms 8 at opposite ends of the case is a pair of spaced apart ribs 11. Between each pair of ribs 11 is a support shelf 12 having a downwardly inclined surface.

Mounted within the case 1 are two pairs of fixed, electrically conductive contacts, one contact of each pair being located adjacent one end of the case 1 and the other contact thereof being located adjacent the opposite end of the case. The first pair of fixed contacts have upstanding arms 13 and 13a, respectively, to which are joined mounting arms 14, 14a that are secured to the respective platforms 8 by rivets 15, 15a. The rivets extend through and beyond the bottom of the case and ter- Ininate in pin type terminals 16, 16a.

The second pair of fixed contacts comprise upstanding arms 18, 18a joined respectively to mounting flanges 19, 19a which are anchored to the case by rivets 20, 20a that terminate in pin terminals similar to the terminals 16, 16a.

Mounted in the recess 7 is a pair of substantially U- shaped, electrically conductive, resilient members 21 and 22. The member 21 comprises a web 23 that is secured to the case bottom 2 by means of a rivet 24 and from which extend two upstanding movable arms 25 and 26. The arm 25 has an offset portion or conductive surface 27 that is adapted to engage the fixed contact 13 and the arm 26 has a conductive button or surface 28 that is adapted to engage the contact 13a. The member 22 is similar to the member 21 and has a web portion that is anchored to the case by a rivet 29 and from which extend two upstanding arms 30 and 31 terminating respectively in conductive surfaces 32 and 33 that are adapted to engage the fixed contacts 20 and 20a. The rivets 24 and 29 may be connected to a source of electrical energy by suitable conductive means (not shown).

Prior to assembly with the apparatus yet to be described, the upstanding arms of the respective conductors 21 and 22 are bent relatively to their respective webs so as practically to parallel each other, but because of their resilience are capable of being spread apart.

The switch includes operating means 35 comprising a molded nylon or other nonconductive body 36 through which extends a pin 37 that is journaled at its ends in openings formed in the side walls 3 and 4 of the case for back and forth rocking movements of the body 36 about the axis of the pin 37. The inner or lower end of the body 36 is provided with two pairs of actuating extensions or foot elements 38, 39 and 40, 41. Between the two pairs of foot elements the body 36 has a smooth, fiat surface 42. See FIGURES 4 and 5.

A flat, resilient biasing spring 43 has its opposite ends supported on the supports 12 and spans substantially the full length of the cavity 7. The spring 43 is unsupported between its ends but is in face-to-face engagement with the flat surface 42 of the body 36 The height of the supports 12 is such that, when the body 36 is in its neutral or normal position shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the spring 43 is stressed or bowed downwardly, thereby causing the flat surface 42 of the operator body to react with the spring and yieldably maintain the body in an upright, centered position with respect to the case. The body may, however, be rocked toward either end of the case about the axis of the pin 37, whereupon the spring 43 becomes more greatly bowed (see FIGURE 4) and, accordingly, continues to exert a force on the body tending to restore it to its neutral position. The effort required to effect such further bowing or deflection of the spring 43 is substantially uniform, thereby imposing no great resistance to rocking of the operator. To facilitate rocking of the body, a handle 44 is secured to the body.

Any suitable cover (not shown) may be used to enclose the top of the case. The cover, however, should have a slot in its upper surface to enable rocking movement of the handle 44.

When the parts are assembled in the manner illustrated in the drawings, the conductive members 21 and 22 straddle the operator body 36. When the operator 35 is in its neutral position, the actuating foot 38 bears against the movable conductor 25 and forcibly holds its surface 27 in engagement with the contact 13. The foot element 41 bears against the conductive arm 31 and holds the con- Patented Jan. 17, 1967 3 tacts 13a and 33a in engagement. The feet 33 and 46 are free from engagement with the respective arms 26 and 30, however, whereby such arms assume their normal, unstressed positions in which the contacts 28 and 32 are free from engagement with the respective fixed contacts 13a and 18.

Upon rocking movement of the operating means 35 counterclockwise from the position shown in FIGURE 1 to the position shown in FIGURE 4, the foot element 38 will move out of engagement with the arm 25, whereby the latter will move to its unstressed position and effect disengagement between the contacts 27 and 13. The foot element 39 will move into engagement with the arm 26 and deflect the latter so as to effect engagement between the contacts 28 and 13a. The relative lengths and angular spacing between the feet 38 and 39 are such that the disengagement of the contacts 13 and 27 and the engagement of the contacts 13a and 28 occur sequentially. Thus, the conductive member 21 cannot engage both of the fixed contacts 13 and 13a simultaneously.

The counterclockwise rocking of the operator 35 does not effect any change in the relative positions of the contacts 18, 32 and 18a, 33. That is, the foot 40 remains out of engagement with the arm 30 and the foot 41 remains in engagement with the arm 31, although the foot 41 will bear more forcibly against the arm 31.

Upon release of the handle 44, the spring 43 reacts on the flat surface 42 of the body 36 and rocks the latter clockwise to its neutral position. When the operating member reaches its neutral position, the full length of the flat surface 4-2 will be in engagement with the spring 43, necessitating downward bowing or stressing of the spring in order to permit rocking movement of the operating member in either direction from its neutral position. Accordingly, there will be no oscillation of the operating member.

If the operating member 35 is rocked clockwise from the position shown in FIGURE 3, the operation of the apparatus is similar to that previously decribed except that the contacts 27 and 28 remain in the same relative positions shown in FIGURE 1 and the contacts 32 and 33 respectively engage the contact 13 and disengage the contact 13a, disengagement between the contacts 13a and 33 preceding engagement of the contacts 32 and 13.

The embodiment of the invention shown in FIGURES 6 and 7 includes many parts which are similar to those included in the previously described embodiment, and such similar parts are identified by similar reference characters. In the modified embodiment there are two pairs of fixed, conductive contacts 50, 50a, and 51, 51a, the contacts of each pair being secured respectively adjacent opposite ends of the case 1. The contact 50 comprises an anchor arm 52 that is secured to the base by the rivet and to which is joined an upstanding and longitudinally projecting arm 53 which parallels the side wall 3 and terminates short of the contact 50a in a laterally extending contact surface 54. The contact 50a includes an anchor arm 55 that is secured to the case by the rivet 15a and to which is joined an upstanding contact arm 56 that is spaced from but adjacent to the contact 54.

The contact 51 has an anchor arm 57 that is secured to the case by the rivet a and to which is joined an upstanding, longitudinally extending arm 58 which parallels the case wall 4 and terminates short of the contact 5111 in a laterally extending contact surface 59. The contact 51a includes an anchor member 60 that is secured to the case by the rivet 26 and to which is joined an upstanding contact arm 61 that is spaced from but adjacent to the arm 59.

A generally L-shaped, resilient, conductive member 62 has one arm 63 anchored to the case by the rivet 24 and from which extends an upstanding, flexible arm 63 having conductive buttons or surfaces 64 and 65 interposed between the contacts 54 and 56, the arm 63 being so stressed as normally to effect engagement between the contacts 54 and 64. A similar conductive member 66 has a mounting arm 67 anchored to the case by the rivet 29 and from which extends an upstanding arm 68 terminating in conductive buttons or surfaces 69 and 70 interposed between the contacts 59 and 61. The arm 68 is so stressed that the contact 69 normally is in engagement with the contact 59.

Operating means 72 comprises a nonconductive body 73 rockably mounted on the case 1 by means of the pin 37 which passes through the body 73. The pin 37 also passes through enlarged openings 74 formed in the contact arms 53 and 58 so as to prevent engagement between the pin and the contact arms. The body 73 has a flat surface 75 at its lower or inner end which engages the spring 43, and the inner end of the body also is provided with a pair of actuating cams or feet 76 and 77 which straddle the spring 43. To the body is connected an operating handle/78 to facilitate rocking of the body about the axis of the pin 37.

When the operating means '72 is in the neutral position illustrated in FIGURE 6, neither of the actuating feet 76 or 77 engages the associated contact arm 63 or 68. Ac cordingly, the inherent resiliency of the arms 63 and 68 maintains the contacts 64 and 69 in engagement with the fixed contacts 54 and 59, respectively. Upon counterclockwise rocking of the body 73 from the position shown in FIGURE 6, the foot 76 will engage the arm 63 so as to effect sequential disengagement of the contacts 64 and 54 and engagement of the contacts 65 and 56. The contact arm 68 will remain in its original position. Upon release of the operating handle 78, the spring 43 will restore the body 73 to its neutral position.

Rocking movement of the operating member 72 clockwise from the position shown in FIGURE 6 will effect engagement between the foot 77 and the arm 68 so as to cause sequential disengagement of the contacts 39, 69 and engagement of the contacts 70, 61, but no change will be made in the position of the arm 63.

Switches of the kind disclosed herein are particularly adapted for use in electrical systems utilizing reversible motors, for example, but may be utilized in any circuit environment in which a double-pole, double-throw switch is useful.

.The disclosed embodiments are representative of presently preferred forms of the invention, but are intended to be illustrative rather than definitive thereof. The invention is defined in the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A switch construction comprising a casing; a first pair of fixed contacts secured adjacent one end of said casing; a second pair of fixed contacts secured adjacent the other end of said casing; a pair of movable contacts respectively having first conductive surfaces normally in engagement with a fixed contact at opposite ends of said casing and having second conductive surfaces normally disengaged from all of said fixed contacts; conductive means connected to said movable contacts and adapted for connection to a source of electrical energy; operating means; means mounting said operating means for back and forth movements toward opposite ends of said casing; and actuating means operable in response to movement of said operating means toward either end of said casing to disengage the first conductive surface of one of said movable contacts from its associated contact of said first pair of fixed contacts and to engage the second conductive surface of said one of said movable contacts with one of the contacts of said second pair of fixed contacts.

2. The construction set forth in claim 1 including resilient means reacting between said operating means and said casing and constantly biasing said operating means to a position substantially midway between the ends of said casing.

3. The construction set forth in claim 2 wherein said resilient means comprises a flat spring member having its opposite ends supported by said casing and being unsupported between its ends.

4. The construction set forth in claim '1 wherein each of said movable contacts comprises a generally U-shaped conductor having a pair of spaced apart legs which straddle said operating means.

5. The construction set forth in claim 1 wherein one contact of each pair of fixed contacts extends from adjacent one end of said casing toward the other end thereof but terminates short of said other end of said casing to provide a space between itself and the other fixed contact adjacent said other end of said casing, and wherein each of said movable contacts comprises a conductive element located in said space.

6. The construction set forth in claim 1 wherein said actuating means comprises a pair of extensions projecting from said operating means for engagement with the respective movable contacts in response to said movements of said operating member.

7. A switch construction comprising a casing; a first pair of fixed contacts secured at one end of said casing; a second pair of fixed contacts secured at the opposite end of said casing; an operating member mounted on said casing between the ends thereof for rocking movement about an axis from a neutral position toward either end of said casing; first conductive means normally engaging one of the fixed contacts at said one end of said casing; second conductive means normally engaging one of the fixed contacts at said other end of said casing; means connected to each of said first and second conductive means and adapted for connection to a source of electrical energy; and .a pair of actuating elements carried by said operating member, one of said actuating elements being engageable with said first conductive means in response to rocking movement of said operating member toward said one end of said casing to disengage said first conductive means and said one of said fixed contacts at said one end of said casing and to engage said first conductive means .and the other fixed contact at the opposite end of said casing, and the other of said actuating elements being engageable with said second conductive means in response to rocking movement of said operating member toward said opposite end of said casing to disengage said second conductive means and said one of said fixed contacts at said opposite end of said casing and to engage said second con- 6 ductive means and the other fixed contact at said one end of said casing.

8. A switch construction comprising a casing; a first pair of fixed contacts secured to said casing and confronting one another in spaced apart relation adjacent one end of said casing; a second pair of fixed contacts secured to said casing and confronting one another in spaced apart relation adjacent the opposite end of said casing; a first movable contact interposed between the contacts of said first pair and normally in engagement with one of them; a second movable contact. interposed between the contacts of said second pair and normally in engagement with one of them; operating means mounted on said casing for movement from a neutral position toward either end of said casing; conductive means connected to each of said first and second movable contacts and adapted for connection to a source of electrical energy; and actuating means engageable with one of said first and second movable contacts in response to movement of said operating means from said neutral position for disengaging said one of said movable contacts from its associated fixed contact and engaging said one of said movable contacts with the fixed contact confronting said associated fixed contact.

9. The construction set forth in claim 8 including resilient means reacting between said casing and said operating means and constantly but yieldably biasing the latter to said neutral position.

10. The construction set forth in claim 9 wherein said resilient means comprises a flat spring member supported at its ends by said casing and being unsupported between its ends, and wherein said operating means has a flat surface in engagement with said spring member between the ends of the latter.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,641,663 6/1953 Krieger 200-6 X 2,943,158 6/1960 Dubeau 2006 X 2,961,519 11/1960 Sadowsky et al 200-6 X 2,966,559 12/1960 Meyer 2006 ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner.

J. R. SCOTT, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A SWITCH CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING A CASING; A FIRST PAIR OF FIXED CONTACTS SECURED ADJACENT ONE END OF SAID CASING; A SECOND PAIR OF FIXED CONTACTS SECURED ADJACENT THE OTHER END OF SAID CASING; A PAIR OF MOVABLE CONTACTS RESPECTIVELY HAVING FIRST CONDUCTIVE SURFACES NORMALLY IN ENGAGEMENT WITH A FIXED CONTACT AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID CASING AND HAVING SECOND CONDUCTIVE SURFACES NORMALLY DISENGAGED FROM ALL OF SAID FIXED CONTACTS; CONDUCTIVE MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID MOVABLE CONTACTS AND ADAPTED FOR CONNECTION TO A SOURCE OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY; OPERATING MEANS; MEANS MOUNTING SAID OPERATING MEANS FOR BACK AND FORTH MOVEMENTS TOWARD OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID CASING; AND ACTUATING MEANS OPERABLE IN RESPONSE TO MOVEMENT OF SAID OPERATING MEANS TOWARD EITHER END OF SAID CASING TO DISENGAGE THE FIRST CONDUCTIVE SURFACE OF ONE OF SAID MOVABLE CONTACTS FROM ITS ASSOCIATED CONTACT OF SAID FIRST PAIR OF FIXED CONTACTS AND TO ENGAGE THE SECOND CONDUCTIVE SURFACE OF SAID ONE OF SAID MOVABLE CONTACTS WITH ONE OF THE CONTACT OF SAID SECOND PAIR OF FIXED CONTACTS. 